Fence post



June 17, 1930.

J. G. JOHNSON FENCE POST Filed May 15, 1929 avwcntoz atbomwqa Patented June 17, 1930 7 JOHN G. JOHNSON, OF DENNISON, MINNESOTA FENCE POST Application filed May 15,

This invention relates to fences and more particularly to a post adapted to be set up in the ground and by means of which wire fencing is to be supported in an upright posi- '5 tion.

One object of the invention is to provide a fence post including a standard and improved means to anchor the standard in the ground and retain it in an upright position.

Another object of the invention is to so form the standard and its anchoring and supporting means that the post may be used either at a corner or between corners of a fence.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fence post having bracing means which may be easily applied when the standard is set in place but may be detached therefrom in order to allow the post'to be reduced to a compact mass for storage or shipment.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the improved post in position for use,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective'view of the post, and p r p Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an anchor forming part of the bracing means for the post.

The standard 1 of this improved post consists of a bar of angle metal which may be of any length desired and having side portions 2 which extend transversely of each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, and have their lower ends beveled, as shown in'Fig. 1, in order to provide the post with a pointed lower end 3 and allow it to be easily driven into the ground in an upright position. An anchor4 consisting of an angular plate or strip .of

thick metal bent to assume the desired shape is fitted against the post in spaced relation to the lower end thereof where it is secured by rivets or. equivalent fasteners 5 and the end portions 6 of this anchor are of such length that they project transversely from the standard and serve to firmly brace the standard against transverse movement when the standard is driven into the ground with the anchor embedded, as shown in Fig. 1. By referring to this figure, it will be seenthat the v standard is to be driven into'the ground until 1929. Serial No. 363,353.

theupper edge of the anchor is substantially flush with the surface of the ground. About the standard is disposed a plate "7 which is preferably rectangular in shape and has its '-central portion formed'with a larger opening ,1;

8 through which the post passes and its cornerportions formed with elongated openings or slots 9 through which fasteners 10 are passed and driven into the ground after the plate has been fitted about the standard. 5 Each of the fasteners 10 is formed, as shown in Fig. 2, and consists of a fiat strip of strong metal twisted to provide the fastener with a spiral shank and having its upper end bent back upon itself to form a head .11 to bear against the upper face of the plate and limit downward movement of the fastener. In view of the fact that the fasteneris formed with a spiral shank and the shank fits snugly in the opening 9 through which it passes, ro- \P tary motion will be imparted to the fastener as it is driven downwardly. Therefore, when the fasteners are driven into the ground, they will be firmly embedded therein and prevented from working upwardly out of place. 1 Therefore, the plate 7 will be retained in its proper position upon the ground where it rests upon the upper end of the anchor 4 and not only serves as a shield to prevent ground about the post from being caused to sink by water seeping into the ground but also rests upon the anchor 4 and prevents the post from pulling out of the ground. V

In-order to brace the post, there has been 1 provided a bracing bar 12 which is also formed of metal and has one end connected with a side portion of the standard by a fastenensuch as the bolt 13. This brace extends outwardly from the standard at a downward j incline and has its outer end bent downwardly to form a foot 14. 'An anchor 15 is driven into the ground in spaced relation to the standard and consists of a strip of strong metalhaving one end portion folded back upon itself to form a head 16 and then bent to provide a tongue 17 which projects from the lower end of the head 16and is adapted to bear against the ground and prevent the anchor from being driven too far. into the ground. This tongue also constitutes a brace for the anchor. The foot 14 of the brace bears against the inner face of the head 16 and is formed with an opening to register with the opening 18 formed in the head of the anchor and through these registering openings is passed the outer end of a tie rod 19. This tie rod extends between the anchor and standard and has its inner end bent to form a hook 20 which engages the plate 7 through the opening 8 and the outer end of the tie rod is threaded in order to receive a securing nut 21 which, when tightened, will draw the tie rod outwardly and cause the hook to be held firmly in engagement with the plate. Itwill thus be seen that the standard will be firmlyv braced by the brace 12 and tie rod 19 and prevented from being drawn out of an upright position when fence wire is stretched. If a post is to be used ata corner of a fence, a-brace 12 may extend from each of the side portions of the standardand each brace have its outer end connected with an anchor 15 by a tie rod extending from the plate 7 with its outer end passed through the lower end of the brace and upper end of the anchor. Any suitable means may be provided for connecting fence wire with the standard.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A fence post comprising a standard adapted to be driven into the ground, a plate fitting about said standard and adapted to rest upon the ground, means to sec-ure'said plate, an anchor adapted to be driven into the ground in s aced relation to said standard, a brace secured at its inner end to said standard and extending downwardly from the standard with its outer end bearing against said anchor, and a tie rod to extend between the standard and anchor close to the ground with its inner end engaged with said plate and its outer end joining the brace and anchor.

2. A fence post comprising a standard adapted to be driven into the ground, a plate fitting about said standard and adapted to rest upon the ground, means to secure said plate, an anchor adapted to be driven into the ground in spaced relation tosaid standard and consisting of a metal strip having its upper portion folded back upon itself and then bent to form a tongue extending from the strip to bear against the ground. a brace carried by said standard and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom with its outer end bent downwardly and bearing against the inner face of the doubled upper end of said anchor, and a tie rod extending between the standard and anchor with its inner end engaged with said plate and its outer end passed through the brace and anchor to unite the same and secured in engagement therewith. k s

3. A fence post comprising a standard, an

anchor secured to said standard and projecting transversely therefrom, a plate fitting about said standard and resting upon said anchor, a second anchor adapted to be embedded in the ground in spaced relation to said standard with its upper end projecting from the ground, a brace extending outwardly and downwardly from said standard and having its outer end bearing against a side face of the upper end of the second anchor, and a tie rod extending between the standard and second anchor with one end engaged with said plate and its other end passed through the outer end of said brace and upper end of the second anchor to secure the same together.

4. A fence post comprising a standard, an anchor secured tosaid standard and projecting transversely therefrom in spaced relation to its lower end and adapted to have its up-- per end flush with the surface of the ground when'the standard is driven into the ground,

a plate fitting loosely aboutsaid standard and resting upon said anchor, "fasteners passed through said plate and adapted to be driven into the ground to secure the plate fiat upon the ground, a second anchor to be driven into the ground in spaced relation to said standard and having a tongue spaced from its upper end to bear against the ground, a brace extending outwardly and downwardly from said standard-and having itsouter end bearing against a side-face of the upper end of the second anchor, and a tie rodextending between the standard andsecond anchor with one end engaged with saidplaterand its other endpassed through the outer end of said brace and upper end of the second anchor to secure the same together.

5. A fence post comprising a standard adapted to be driven into the ground, said standard being formed of angle metal to provide side portions extending transversely of each other, a plate formed with a central opening to receive said'standard and adapted to rest upon the ground aboutthe standard, fastener receiving slots being formed in the plate, fasteners having spiral shanks to be driven through said slots into the ground and rotated while driven downwardly, an anchor plate adapted to be driven into the ground in spaced relation to said standard and having its upper portion folded back uponitself and bent to form a tongue extending outwardly and adapted to bear against the ground, an opening being formed in the doubled upper portion of the anchor above said tongue, a brace secured'to OHG'SldB portion ieo of said standard and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom and having-its lower end bent downwardly to form a foot fitting flat against the anchor and formed with an opening registering with the opening in the anchor,a tie rod extending horizontally between the post and anchor with its inner end bent to form a hook engaged with said plate through the central opening thereof and its outer end passed through the Openings Of the brace and anchor, and a securing nut upon the outer end Of said rod.

In testimony whereof I afi'lx my signature.

JOHN G. JOHNSON. L 5. 

